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6:15 p.m. update The sentencing hearing will continue Friday morning, according to the Associated Press.

3:50 p.m. update: James Biela’s lawyers asked the jury to sentence him to life in prison without parole and called a former prison director as a witness to describe life behind bars.

Jackie Crawford, a former warden and director of the Nevada Department of Corrections, said inmates serving sentences of life without parole are monitored closely.

“They are sent to Ely State Prison, held in a single cell and controlled in a regimented environment for a minimum for two years,” she said. “They are served their meals in the room. If they leave the room they are shackled. They can never be placed in a minimum or medium security prison.”

The cells have a toilet/sink combination, a bunk and some shelves, she said. Guards slid food into the cells through a small slot, she said.

Security is the prison’s No. 1 focus, she said. Officials want to protect the community, guards and other inmates. To that end, she said, they monitor inmates closely.

“This is not a cake-walk,” she said. Inmates are expected to behave appropriately, and if they don’t, she said, “We will use whatever force is necessary to bring that inmate under control.”

Ely State Prison is in a rural location and is protected by armed guards, she said.

Ely and the High Desert Prison in Southern Nevada have never had an escape, she said.

Nevada’s prisons are rigid and severe, she said. And an inmate sentenced to life without parole would never be moved to a minimum-security facility, she said.

3:20 p.m. update: Once the verdicts were read, the prosecutor told the jury they must now decide the punishment for James Biela.

“This has been an emotional trial and it’s going to get more emotional,” Deputy District Attorney Chris Hicks told the jury. “But what has happened to these victims and to their families has all happened because of him,” Hicks said, pointing at Biela.

“We will be asking you to give him the death penalty.”

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Biela’s lawyer, James Leslie told the jury in his opening statement that the defense lawyers mean no disrespect for the tragic loss in this case, but they will argue that there are reasons to vote for life.

He reminded the jury that a death sentence must be unanimous.

And he said: “If you sentence Jimmy Biela to death, you must assume it will be carried out.”

“You’re going to hear from his family, his mother, his brother,” Leslie told the jurors, and said they will learn about his upbringing.

“He witnessed things that no child should witness,” Leslie said.

“Jimmy Biela is a man who has a family who lives him,” Leslie said. “Jimmy Biela has many family members who will shed many tears after this trial.”

Leslie said they are not asking for a sentence with parole.

“We will ask you to vote for life in prison without parole,” he said. “That is an appropriate and sufficient punishment.”

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2:55 p.m. update: Now that the jury has found James Biela guilty in the murder and rape of Brianna Denison and sexual assault of two other women, they now must decide his punishment.

The jury returned to the courtroom at 2:30 p.m. and the Deputy District Attorney Chris Hicks began his case for sentencing Biela to death.

Lauren Denison, Brianna’s aunt, said the family was “relieved” by the verdict. She said the Denison family will say more after the penalty phase.

Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick praised the jury's verdict, and said it confirms his faith in the jury system.

Biela’s former girlfriend, Carleen Harmon, sat in the back of the courtroom, but declined to comment.

A friend of the Brianna Denison family said "yes" as the court clerk read the verdict form that said he was guilty in her murder.

Others cried as the clerk read each of the other four counts. Detectives hugged the prosecutors. Brianna Denison's mother, Bridgette hugged friends. The October 2007 rape victim cried and hugged her family.

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Biela stood with his hands folded in front of him, and shook his head slightly as the verdicts were read. His family hugged and cried.

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2:30 p.m. update: The jury has found James Biela guilty on all five counts.

A friend of the Brianna Denison family said "yes" as the court clerk read the verdict form that said he was guilty in her murder.

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2:10 p.m. update: The jury in the James Biela murder and sexual assault came back with the following verdicts:

On count one, the October 2007 sexual assault of a student in a parking garage, the jury found him guilty. They also found he used a deadly weapon.

On count two, the kidnapping of a student in December 2007, the jury found him guilty.

On count three, the sexual assault of the women in December 2007, the jury found him guilty.

On count four, the murder of Brianna Denison, the jury found him guilty.

On count five, the sexual assault of Brianna Denison, the jury found him guilty.

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1:40 p.m. update: After deliberating for about six and a half hours, the jury in the James Biela murder trial have reached a verdict.

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Family members, media and one of the victims are lined up in the hall waiting to go into the courtroom. Some are in tears. Others are saying their hearts are in their throats.

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The jury has reached a verdict in the Biela case. Check back for details.

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Noon update: Bailiffs have ordered sub sandwiches for the Biela trial jurors as they move into the five-hour mark for deliberation over two days.

The seven women and five men deliberated for about an hour and a half last night, and more than three hours this morning with no word.

They have yet to ask any questions.

James Biela faces rape and murder charges in the 2008 death of Brianna Denison, and sexual assault charges in two rapes in late 2007.

If convicted of murder, the trial will move into a penalty phase. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

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11 a.m. update: Two hours and counting as the jury in the James Biela murder trial continues deliberations this morning.

No word yet.

The seven-woman, five-man jury has not asked any questions yet, the bailiff's said. They'll have lunch in the jury room if no verdict is reached by noon.

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9:25 a.m. update: The jury in the James Biela murder and sexual assault trial is a punctual bunch.

Washoe District Court Judge Robert Perry ordered them to return to court at 9 a.m. today to continue their deliberations, but the seven women and five men arrived early, so they began discussions at 8:40 a.m.

The panel was sent into the jury room Wednesday at about 5:23 p.m. after the prosecutor and defense lawyer finished their closing arguments. A bailiff brought them three large pizzas and they started their work.

With no verdict reached, Perry sent them home at 7 p.m.

The jury is considering five charges for three victims. Biela is charged with raping and murdering Brianna Denison in early 2008, and sexually assaulting two other students in late 2007. He also faces a kidnapping charge in one of the rapes.

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The jury deciding the fate of James Biela will return to its deliberations at 9 a.m. today.

The seven-woman, five-man jury began considering the five charges against Biela at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, after the prosecutor and defense lawyer finished their closing arguments.

Judge Robert Perry sent them home at 7 p.m. and told them to return this morning.

The trial is completing its third week.

Biela is charged with raping and strangling Brianna Denison, a 19-year-old college student, in early 2008. He also faces one count each of kidnapping and sexual assault in a December 2007 attack, and one count of sexual assault with a deadly weapon in an October 2007 rape at a university parking garage.

If the jury finds him guilty of murder, the trial will move into a penalty phase. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty.